Book excerpt: Lawrence explored his own experience in his writing with remarkable depth, courage and imagination. This biography tells the writing life too, as never before, tracing the illuminating relations between man and manuscript, without confusing life and art. Drawing on new information from the Cambridge Editions of the Letters and Works, and original research, fresh light is shed on questions of Lawrence's sexuality, health, quarrels and friendships, which have been more often gossiped or theorised about than scrupulously examined.